Jeremy Johns has written a post for Red Letter Christians that Tony Campolo just tweeted. It expresses some things Chrisatians need to hear, and to adopt for ther own journey (IMHO)
What does it mean to be a Christian when organizations like The Family create a Jesus that does not hear the prayers of the poor? An organization that prays to the powerful in place of God? That participates in the global crucifixion of the poor by turning Jesus’ cross into a social ladder for politicians to climb upwards, past the broken body of Christ? To cultivate relationships with dictators?
That’s just a small quote. The entire post tells the fuller story. But it zeroes in on my continyued dismay at how so many Christians have forgotten/ignored/shoved aside the simple truth that Jesus made it a point to highlight the importance of the poor, live with them, assure them that God is brokenhearted when they suffer poverty, but AGAIN as we watch the very people who call themselves by Jesus’ name, to instead “hook up” with “successful” corridors of power — power, that is, as the world defines it and identifies it (apparently by having $650 a plate “Prayer” breakfasts).
Wow. Mind blowing. If that doesn’t ever conjure up the scene of a certain “radiocal Rabbi” aghast at the activity of commerce in the temple. It seems Jeremy has been noticing @JeffSharlet’s accounts of “The Family”. The “Head of Empire Jesus” is placed in position as the “ultimate warrior”; the “Wild at Heart” role model. I shudder when I see such things. And then again when I see extragence and exlusivity so prevalent in something called a “Prayer Breakfast”, and the mocking of some when these things are brought to light by the offering of a People’s Prayer Breakfast where the seeking is done to a God who invites us to a Kingdom where the table is spread out to all.
Back to you , Jeremy:
“Our political class does not hear the prayers of the poor, they hear the ‘prayers’ of corporate lobbyists who fund their campaigns”
